Bad break ends Christie’s season

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STEVE McCLAREN will be forced into the transfer market this January after losing Malcolm Christie for the remainder of the season. Christie, Middlesbrough’s England Under-21 striker, broke a shin in training yesterday and is not expected to return to full fitness until the summer, leaving McClaren desperately short of cover in the team’s weakest position.

The loss of Christie, 24 — who joined Middlesbrough from Derby County for £3 million last year — is compounded by the long-term absence of Joseph-Désiré Job, the injured Cameroon striker, who has not played since the end of September. McClaren’s complement of centre forwards